Welsh Folk-Song Society.

Corporate body

Welsh Folk-Song Society.

The Welsh Folk-Song Society (Cymdeithas Alawon Gwerin Cymru) was formed between 1906 and 1908, at the University College of North Wales, Bangor. It was part of the national movement like the foundation of the University College of Wales and the National Library of Wales. Its aims were set out in the first issue of its journal, in 1909: to collect and to preserve Welsh folk-songs, ballads and tunes. Not much had been documented before the twentieth century. The Welsh Folk-Song Society grew between 1908 and 1930, with enthusiastic contributions by individuals including Mary Davies (1855-1930). The Society's support then dwindled, although it continued to publish its journal, until it established links with the Welsh Folk Museum from 1963 onwards; the Journal sequence came to an end in 1972. The Welsh Folk-Song Society's activities include the recommendation of selections of songs for use at the National Eisteddfod, and annual weekend meetings at Gregynog Hall, Merionethshire. The Society has also supported the re-publication of old folk song collections, and in 1978, it restarted its journal, now under the title 'Canu Gwerin: cylchgrawn Cymdeithas Alawon Gwerin Cymru / Folk song: Journal of the Welsh Folk-Song Society'. In 1985, it published D. Roy Saers' history of the society: 'Cymdeithas Alawon Gwerin Cymru / The Welsh folk-song Society: 1908-1983'. W. S. Gwynn Williams (1896-1978), was the Secretary of the Society from 1933-1957, and editor of the Journal, 1946-1975. W. Emrys Cleaver (1905-1985) also served as Secretary of the Society.